Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-19
SHOT BY HIS STEP-SoN.
Banker RaWson,s Domestic Troubles
Culminato In His Murder by
His Wife's Son.
Aggravated by Infamous Charges
Against His Mother the Boy Com.
nfts the Tragedy at .
Church Door.

people at the church door OF one OF til
most fashionable congregations in Chicago
= grey-haired millionaire bank prssiden
was remorselessly shot down to-day by hi
step.son to Avengs or shield womal
charged with continued adultery. tn
woman was no less = person than Mrs
Beckie Rawson, wife of the banker shot, an.
mother OF the assailant. The banker il
Stephen w. Rawson. president OF the Uniol
Trust Company OF Chicago. William Lee
aged 16, is his step-son. Banker Rawson
with five bullets in his body and apparent
" in dying condition was hastily picket
of the blood-spattered curb and bundled
neen waiting for wealthy worshjppers
Young Lee with the empty
STILL SMOKING REVOLVER IN HAND,
was hurriedly thrown into q strikingly diff
ferent conveyanee-the blue-painted. com
mon-place wagon OF the nearest polic'
patrol that came rattling around the cor
ner. Away went the carriage in one direc
tion-off in the other dashed the patrol
while all around on streets or side~al
gaped the horror stricken attendants oi
five great churches in the vicinity just
pouring out after the mornings praise oi
Him who omsnanded. Thou shalt not
Kill" Thou shalt not commit adultery"
Slowly the crowds began to recover their
dazed senses and recall in detail the fearful
circumstances of the crime. Young Lee
had been seen for half an hour previous
pacing the stone sidewalk on Ashland ave-
nue., near Madison, fronting the Third
Presbyterian Church. This is the church
of which DR.. Withrow, recently from Bos.
ton, le pastor, and which became widely
known as the char . of DR.. Kittridge. now
located in New York. OF this church
Banker Rawson has
LONG BEEN A LEADING LIGHT
and was still an honored member, notwith-
he had been charged by his wife
with perjury and other offenses enough to
make him. il true, veritable whited sepul.
chre. He on the other hand alleged that
she, although prominent in society and a
beautiful woman in appearance, was really
q disreputable, blasphemous, devilish- tenn
pered adventures, who coveted only his
money. For q year or n ore the two have
been fighting each other in the divorce
cOnrta, and within week the banker has
fled against her additional charges OF
adultery. Little attention had been paid
to young Lee as he
sTALKED BACKWARD AND FORWARD
past the church entrance. He was lost in
The crowd when the gaily dressed congrega-
zion began to come, and among them the
well-known form OF the hank president.
T. D. k<>u ukn k~>
rage when. breaking the sweet, majestic
tones OF the great organ, came the sharp
rack OF revolver, followed by a deep
,roan. An ear thquake could have scarcely
produced more confusion at tho moment
among the throngs of gentlemen. ladies and
children and the long tiers OF carriages and
;nachnsn that lined the sidewalks in every
direction.
4 DIN OF SCREAMS
oegan, but subsidized almost Instantly, the
lender. well-dressed, youthful Lee was seen
% quickly, but coolly steady his charged
pistol with his left hand, while with his
light he again and again pulled the fatal
rigger. With stif1ed cry. 'Im killed."
he aged millionaire fell urostrate 90 the
tone flags, upturning his agonized white
ace at the cold set countenance OF his
tepson. Not till the rest OF the five
hambers had been emptied into the old
mans body did Lee seem to breathe. the
rowd seemed rooted to the stones in hor-
or. helpless till a policeman came running
o the scene. Then begaL a wild cls NOR.
ind Lee, turning to the officer, hoarsely
TAKE NE TO JAIL QUICK"
It seemed scarcely a moment till the
'atrol wagon bore him away. When the
ying banker reached his home six physic.
ans had been called. They probed for bull
ets and found that all had lodged in the
egs or arms, save one, that entered near
he small of the back, and as nearly as
oul be judged, plunged through his abdo-
nen. II Lis life was saved, it would be little
hort Gf a miracle Over at the police
ia alton young Lee was asking reporters to
AIRY Mrs. Rawson, his mother. the news.
he occupies apartments at the Continental
otel. A reporter sent up word that he
ad extremely important business and was
without delay to q plump. dark
handsome woman in the
rime of life, the most nOticea bic feature OF
HON was pair OF swapping black eyes.
he was clad IN tasteful, tight6tting dark
ress and white jacket.
well, what business have your" said
be.
"Then you have heard nothing OF your
on?"
mo: what is it?''
well, be has got into little trouble"
"Go on. What has he done7"
"Well, he is arrested. He had some
rouble with Mr.. Rawson."
"Go on and tell me what he has done.
lon't keep me in suspense" eagerly broke
!, the woman.
"He shot him, but it isn't Serious"
uickly added the reporter as Mrs. Rawson
losed her eyes and trembled with excite
aused Mrs. Rawson's eyelids to raise and
be brought i,er head up with a jerk.
"Oh. don't be alarmed. l am all right.
10 on and tell me all.'
"1hat is about all. He shot him several
ines and
rs he dead?" eagerly broke in the woman
gain.
mo. bit he is probably fatally injured. |
lie cannot recover from his wounds
Then there was a pause The reporter
TODD and looked at Mrs. Rawson, while !
he coo.ly returned his look of inquiry
ith slight sneer on her dark. handsome
ice.
Well" she calmly and hauehtily eiacu-
tied. lis there anything more?"
In a posture of graceful Incidence che |
'aned against q dressing case and uream-
y watched the reporter, while he was COL
,cting his thoughts. She looked positively |
eepy.
II would like to ask you what you have
o say about it?" the young man finally |
sp;ed. "What do you think it was done
,r?''
In an instant Mrs. Rawson was trans
,rmed. Her black eyes flashed the fire OF
eadly hate. She seemed to quiver from head
q foot. ''What do I think OF i'?" che |
ried. Il am glad OF it. He deserved it."
he stopped just long enough to catch her
reath. What was it done for? Because
"a wson has made me out on the streets
0 he public prostitute. I'll stand by the
oy," she cried. raising her hand with q
ramatic gesture. He did more than any
oy would do. He is the son OF his
lother." Then she began to pace to and
o over the heavily carpeted floor. II
ltended to do it myself" she exclaimed
nddealy stopping in the middle of the
nom.
Ibid your son know OF yourintentions?"
She turned wicked look on her ques.
ioner and said sharply, II do not know.
Ie might have known it. He surely knew
. deserved it." Then she grew hungry for
nure details of the bloody deed. She in
uired where he was shot and some of the
II am glad Of it," she OK.